Denver Underground Film Festival

A SHOWCASE FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS SINCE 1997

The Denver Underground Film Festival premiered on November 21, 22 & 23, 1997 as a showcase for independent filmmakers from Colorado and beyond.

Inspired by the Sunday film parlors organized by Colorado's own Avant Garde filmmaker and film educator Stan Brakhage, DUFF aims to preserve Colorado's legacy of experimental filmmaking by exposing new audiences to classic and contemporary Avant Garde cinema, as well as new independent short and features in all genres.

As a registered Public Benefit entity in Colorado, DUFF is dedicated to promoting the spirit of social entrepreneurship by rewarding filmmakers for their work through its box office payout program. Borrowing concepts from the art gallery and music venue models, 60% of the box office of each program is divided equally between the participating filmmakers. In this manner, every filmmaker has the opportunity to promote the festival as much as they want to friends, family and crew, thus increasing attendance and the box office total.